Pneumatic tool



June 2, 1931. F. M. SLATER 1,303,481

PNEUMATIC TOOL Filed Dec. 4, 1929 .d 1 f If y 6 j 1 6V /,1\\w

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Hm A TTORNEYZ Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- FRED M. SLATER, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR INGERSOLL-RAND COM- PANY, 0F JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY PNEUMATIC TOOL Application filed December 4, 1929. Serial No. 411,494.

This invention relates to pneumatic tools, but more particularly to the throttle valve actuating means of fluid actuated percussive tools of the hand held type.

The objectsof the invention are to enable a pneumatic tool which is adapted to benormally gripped at its rearward end with only one hand, to be equipped with a pair of laterally extending grip members and 'to enable the same throttle valve actuating lever to be used as a medium for manipulating the throttle valve when the tool is equip ed with either a single grip member orwit a plurality of grip members.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The figure in the drawing is a sectional elevation of so much of a pneumatic tool as will serve to illustrate the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, A designates a cylinderhaving a piston chamber B to accommodate a reciprocatory' i throttle valve NV in the form of a ball which controls communication between the recess hammerpiston A closure is provided for the rear end of the piston chamber B in the form of a plate D which forms one side of a valve chamber E in the rear end of the cylinder A.

The plate D is provided with a rear inlet passage F through "which pressure fluid flows from the valve chamber E into the rearward end, of the piston chamber B. Di-- ametrically opposite from the inlet'passage F and in the plate D is a front inlet passage G which may lead through the cylinder A to the front end of the piston chamber B 'WVithin the valve chamber E is a distributing valve H of the oscillatory plate type to control the inlet passages F and G. The plate D forms a' seat for the valve H and seated on the rearward end of the cylinder A is a back head J the forward end of which extends into the cylinder A and forms the rearward bounding surface of the valve chamber E.

The back head J maybe of a conventional O disposed diametrically opposite each other on the back head J to leave a space Ptherebetween of suflicient width to accommodate the operatorshandb The grip member K as illustrated is only of sufiicient width to be grasped by one hand. When the tool is thus equipped it is customary for the operator to support a portion of the weight of the tool as well as to guide it by grasping the cylinder A with the other han r VVithin the back head J is a recess Q, having a threaded portion R to receive a hollow plug S to which may be suitably connected a conduit T for conveying pressure fluid from a source of supply'to the recess Q. Leading from the innermost end of the recess Q, to the valve chamber E is a supply passage U through which pressure fluid may be supplied to the valve chamber E.

"At the juncture of the recess Q and the supply passage U is a valve seat V'for a The throttle lever X is in the form of a bell crank comprising an arm 6 which bears against the rod Z and a lever portion a which lies beneath the grip portion K'and extends generally longitudinally thereof; Due to this arrangement the throttle lever X may be 'readily manipulated to unseatthe throttle valve W by the same hand whereb the grip portion K is grasped. l1

The tool so-far' described is more particularly adapted for horizontal drilling or in such positions where the weight of'the tool may not be conveniently supported by grasping only the rearward end thereof. There are times however when it is desirable to use a tool-of this'type for downhole drilling, and when so used there is of I of the lever portion 0 and engages a notch '8 in the throttle lever X. In this way the the said tool may be equipped with a' plurality of grip members, as for instance, (2 and e which lie in the same longitudinal plane as the grip portion K.

In order to enable the grip members (Z and e to be secured to the grip portion K the said grip portion K is providedwith a bore f; which extends-longitudinally therethrough for the reception of'a bolt 9 whereon the grip memberscl and .e are disposed.

The ends of the bolt 9 may berthreaded to receive nuts h whereby the bolt 9 maybe held inthe correct assembled position and the grip members (Z and 6 may be clamped securely to the grip portion K.

i As will be readily apparent, when using the tool for down-hole work and in which case the tool will be equipped with the grip members (Z and c, it would be extremely inconvenient for the operator to manipulate thethrottle valve IV by means of the throttle lever X. In order to enable the throttle valve W' to be unseated without necessitating the releasing of oneof the grip members (Z and e, an actuating lever jis mounted pivotally on the bolt 9 as by means of a pin is, and said actuating lever has a lever portion 0 which extends generally longitudinally of the gripmember (5 so that it may be readily grasped by the same hand whereby the grip member d'isgrippedl The actuating lever j has a laterally extending arm which extends into a slot g in the bolt g and through which the pin' it extends. v The actuating lever j is so located that that portion thereof through which the pin it extends overlies the throttle lever X and has a 'projcction 1 which extends laterally throttlelever X and the actuating lever will beinterlocked with each other so that when usingthe tool for down-hole drilling the throttle valve Wimay be readily unseated by in'erely manipulating the actuating lever j. The movement of the actuating lever 3' will then be transmitted through the throttle lever X to the rod Z which will unseatthe throttle valvel/V.

.From the foregoing, it willbe apparent that for drilling in positions in which becomes necessary for the operator to support the entire weight of the tool, the grip ,members (Z and e and the bolt :9 ,whereby the members are secured to the grip portion K may be removed from the tool ,and the tool may then be graspeclon the cylinder bythe grip members.

with one hand and with the other hand on the grip portion K. When thus using the tool the throttle valve WV may be actuated by means of the throttle lever X.

WVhen using the tool for down-hole drilling the grip members all and 6 maybe attachedto the grip portionK and the actuating lever may be pivoted to the bolt 9 so that the projection T will be inserted in the notch s. The tool will then be adapted for use in down-hole drilling and in which case thethrottle valve W may be unseated by means of the actuating lever y through the medium of the throttle valve W.

As has been before stated, the grip memhere a? and 6, together with theqthrottle lever 7', may be attached or detached vin accordance withthe exigencies of the work; I Almovable by manual pressure applied directg5 ly thereto to actuate the throttle valve when the tool is being held by the handle, a pair of grip members forming an alternative means .ofholding the tool, means for securing the grip members to the handle, and an actuating. lever ad'acent one grip member and engaging. the t rottle lever for transmitting the movement of the" actuating lever through the throttle lever. to the p throttle valve, said actuating lever being movableby manual pressure applied directly thereto when the tool is being held 2. In a pneumatic tool, t he combination of a cylinderand a back head having a handle whereby the tool may be held to the work, a-throttle valvein the backrhead,

a throttle lever. pivoted on'the handle and movable by manual pressure applieddirect- .ly thereto to actuate the throttleflvalve when the tool is being held by the handle, a pair of grip members forming. an alternative means of holding the tool, aboltvfor securing the grip members to the: handle, and anactuating lever pivoted on the bolt ad-fl jacent one grip member and interlockingly;

I engaging the throttle lever for transmitting the movement of the actuating lever through the throttle lever to the throttle valve, said actuating'lever being movable J by manual pressure applied directly thereto when the tool is being held by the gripjmembers,

'3. In a pneumatic tool,v;the combination ofp'a cylinder'and 'a back "-he'ad having a handle whereby thetool may beheld to the work, a throttle valve in the back head, a throttle lever pivoted on the handle and movable by manual pressure applied directly thereto to actuate the throttle valve when the tool is being held by the handle, said throttle lever having a notch therein, a pair of grip members forming an alternative means of holding the tool, a bolt for securing the grip members to the handle, an actuating lever pivoted on the bolt and extending longitudinally of one grip member, and

a projection on the actuating lever engaged by the notch whereby the throttle lever may be actuated by the actuating lever for opening the throttle valve, said actuating lever being movable by manual pressure applied directly thereto when the tool is being held by the grip members.

4. In a pneumatic tool, the combination of a cylinder and a back head having a handle, a throttle valve in the back head, a throttle lever pivoted on the handle to actuate the throttle valve, a pair of grip members extending laterally from the handle, means for securing the grip members to the handle, said means and the grip members being detachable therefrom, and an actuating lever adjacent one grip member and detachable therewith and engaging the throttle lever for transmitting the movement of the actuating lever through the throttle lever to the throttle valve.

5. In a pneumatic tool, the combination of a cylinder and a back head having a handle whereby the tool may be held to the work, a throttle valve in the back head, a throttle lever pivoted on the handle and movable by manual pressure applied directly thereto to actuate the throttle valve when the tool is being held by the handle, a pair of grip members extending laterally from the handle and forming an alternative means of holding the tool, means for securing the grip members to the handle, said means and the grip members being detachable therefrom, and an actuating lever ad- 'jacent one grip member and detachable therewith, said actuating lever engaging the throttle lever for transmitting the movement of the actuating lever through V the throttle lever to the throttle valve, said actuating lever being movable by manual pressure applied directly thereto when the tool is being held by the grip members.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

FRED M. SLATER. 

